The Ñuble Region was the venue for the final ceremony of the Oenotourism Awards Chile 2024an event that recognises excellence and innovation in Chilean wine tourism. Held at the historic Viña Santa Berta in San Nicolás, this award ceremony organised by Corfo's Enotourism Chile Programme distinguished Viña Concha y Toro, Viña Prado and María Ignacia Mery as the big national winners. With a focus on the quality, authenticity and diversity of wine tourism, celebrating the experiences and practices that enrich and project the image of Chile as a wine tourism destination.
In this year's edition, top honours went to Viña Concha y Toro in the category of Best Wine Tourism Experiencewith its mystical Casillero del Diablo Night Tour + Dinnerwhich immerses visitors in an enogastronomic experience at the legendary Bodega 1883. Prado Vineyardawarded as Best Emerging Winerywas recognised for its sustainable production in the Itata Valley, reflecting a deep connection with natural cycles and a minimal intervention approach. In the category of Best Wine Tourism Guide, María Ignacia Mery The Requingua winery stood out for its ability to transform each visit into an immersive journey, revealing the history and process of Toro de Piedra wine, captivating each visitor.
Honourable mentions were also awarded to outstanding projects in key areas of wine tourism. Nomad Astrotourism received recognition in Territorial Linkage and Innovation for its proposal that fuses enotourism and astro-tourism, connecting visitors with the starry sky in a unique setting. At Territorial Gastronomy, Casa Silva Vineyard was awarded for bringing the authentic flavours of the Chilean territory to each experience, strengthening the link between local culture and wine tourism, and integrating unique flavours that reflect the regional identity.
Wine tourism has become a key activity for the development of tourism in Chile. For the Undersecretary of Tourism, Verónica Pardo, "wine tourism is one of the most outstanding experiences that Chile offers its tourists. Today, 22.7% of those who visit us make visits to vineyards, seeking to learn about our winemaking tradition and live authentic experiences in the midst of our beautiful landscapes. In addition, 61% of tourists are looking for a gastronomic experience, which is always accompanied by a good wine or local liquor. This type of tourism not only boosts our wine industry, but also promotes the culture and products of our regions, consolidating Chile as a unique and quality destination.
Claudio Cilveti, President of Enoturismo Chile, said that "the Enoturismo Chile Awards consolidate a fundamental activity for the positioning of Chile in the field of global tourism. These awards reflect the effort and creativity of those who promote the sector, from large wineries to emerging projects, and highlight the ability of wine tourism to bring the identity of Chile to new audiences".
The choice of the Ñuble Region as the venue for this edition of the awards underlines Enoturismo Chile's commitment to decentralisation and the valorisation of each of the territories that make Chile's wine offer unique. The event marks a milestone in the consolidation of Chile as a wine tourism destination of excellence.
In addition to the national winners, the Chile 2024 Wine Tourism Awards ceremony also celebrated the regional winners in the Best Emerging Winery and Best Wine Tourism Experience categories. These distinctions highlight wineries and experiences that represent the best of each region, standing out for their commitment to innovation, quality visitor service and the authenticity of their proposals. The regional awards are a recognition of the efforts of those who promote wine tourism in their territories, promoting a diverse and enriching offer in the different wine valleys of Chile.
Best Wine Tourism Experience:
- Coquimbo: Nomad AstroTourism
- Valparaíso: Casa Valle Viñamar
- Metropolitan: Viña Concha y Toro
- O'Higgins: Viña Casa Silva
- Maule: Miguel Torres Winery
- Biobío: Viña Quinta Rosa
- Ñuble: Viña Mujeres Itata
Best Emerging Winery:
- Valparaíso: Viña Attilio & Mochi
- Maule: Viña Aresti
- Ñuble: Viña Prado
For more information on the Chile 2024 Wine Tourism Awards and details of the regional and national winners, please visit www.premiosenoturismochile.cl.